WORKMATES have given their full support to a campaign which will raise vital funds for life-saving charities.

Employees at EDF Energy’s offices, at Doxford International Business Park, in Sunderland, organised a range of cancer-awareness events.

It saw various visits from experts to explain the importance of screening, self-awareness and symptoms of breast, bowel, prostate and other forms of the disease.

The company also teamed up with the Against Breast Cancer charity to set up a special “Bin Your Bra” collection point, for staff to dump their unwanted bras.

More than 200 bras were collected, which will be used by the charity to raise vital research funds to improve detection and survival.

More than 300 staff members also signed up for health check text alerts services, provided by the Coppafeel and Ballboys cancer charities.

Jemma Gouch, EDF Energy training and development specialist, who helped organise the awareness campaign, said: “When we asked our staff which health issues they would like to know more about, the overwhelming response was for more information on cancer-related illnesses.

“Although the underlying messages of the campaign are of course very serious, we’ve tried to do it in a fun and engaging way.

“As well as raising vital funds, the old bras we have collected will be given a new lease of life across Africa, where they will help in ventures to provide employment and reduce poverty – not bad for unwanted and ill-fitting bras that would usually be consigned to landfill sites.”